Friday, February 1, 2013

FFWD ~ Brown-Sugar Squash and Brussels Sprouts en Papillote

The very delicious Brown-Sugar Squash and Brussels Sprouts en Papillote

January is over! It’s time to move on to French Fridays for February! I don’t mind saying January, with the exception of the Long and Slow Apples, was a bust for me. The Herb Spaetzle was just good. However, I couldn’t even bring myself to make the Chicken Liver Gateau, and the Shrimp with Cellophane noodles was just so-so! Just so-so was a higher mark than most of the Doristas gave it! So, with new beginnings in mind, let us start anew!

Our recipe for the first friday of February is, Brown Sugar Squash and Brussels Sprouts en Papillote.The term en Papillote is French for "in parchment” and refers to a moist heat cooking method. The food is enclosed in a packet of parchment paper or foil, and then cooked in the oven. It basically steams your food in the packets. This dish was easy! I made only one packet, for my lunch. First I peeled and cubed the butternut squash, which was the hardest part of this dish. I peeled and chopped the apple, washed a handful of brussels sprouts, and placed them all into the bowl. Then I tossed them with some olive oil, added salt and pepper and placed them onto a 12 inch square of foil. I then sprinkled on some brown sugar and closed the packet. Now it’s ready for the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, until the veggies are tender.As I said, I made this for my lunch. I knew my husband was not going to eat a packet of steamed veggies, especially when there were no peas, corn or potatoes in the packets. Since he’s a sandwich kind of guy, and I really don’t do sandwiches, this was a perfect lunch for me. I added a slice of crusty Italian bread with some Labneh (yogurt spread). The veggies were delicious and cooked perfectly. A definite “keeper”. Happy February everyone!!This recipe can be found in Dorie Greenspans book “Around My French Table” or here. To see what the other Doristas are up to, check it out here.

I echo your sentiments about the January recipes. But, moving on...that's funny about your husband because my husband loves sandwiches, too. I don't mind them but they're not generally my first choice.

Those grandsons are adorable and the best part of your post! Happy Groundhogs Day to you too!! And that reminds me...am I supposed to be making fasnachts soon? I need to get with it. Nice photos with such pretty colors that look fun against the foil.

Kathy, congratulations to your cute grandsons! What a nice picture of them! Your vegetables look so delicious and colorful, too bad that your husband is a "sandwich type", he certainly missed quite a healthy treat! Seriously, I agree that this was a wonderful recipe, one that can also be prepared in advance and varied with seasonal vegetables.Have a wonderful weekend!

This does make for such a nice, quick lunch, and I would definitely do it again for just that reason! Although I felt roasting the veggies brought out more flavor, I liked the freshness that the packet method gave them. And they look so pretty, such bright colors! Lovely job with this one!

Your grandsons are adorable!!! And we were definitely on the same track this week. Yup, Bill plays golf...if we ever have a chance to meet up, we'll let them have steak and baked potatoes and we can be much more adventuresome :)

I took the easy way out and bought the squash already cut up at the supermarket. That is not something I do normallybut I remember doing butternut squash before and it was quite hard to cut. We loved this recipe, it's definitely a keeper.Love the picture of your adorable grandsons, so handsome.

This looks so good and perfect for a healthy lunch. I used to make little individual packets of vegetables (with potatoes) and then keep them in a heated up Le Creuset and take them down to our bluff park as our part of a pot luck beach dinner party....until I saw your post today, I had completely forgotten about making these. Everything tossed in olive oil and then baked about 30 minutes before we left. Thanks for the reminder! Your grandsons are darling!! xoannie

First, your grandsons are adorable. Those pink cheeks!! Second, I love cooking all sorts of fish "en papillote". I am always amazed how well it turns out. Sometimes when I use parchment, I even staple it closed!! Shhhhh.

Happy Birthday to your grandsons! Did you make their cake? I can't wait to one day make my grandson's birthday cake. It will be a high point of my grandmothering:) I think we all enjoyed this recipe. January was a weird food month, wasn't it?

They had two birthday cakes..one for each! My son-in-law actually made the cake, I whipped the cream for the frosting and my daughter decorated it! You can’t see the front, but she did karate cookie figures and lego pops! It was a Ninjago lego party! Grandchildren are a joy…the best thing about getting older!

I am with you on looking forward to the February choices. Let's just say that January pushed my comfort zone and I am glad to have those pages of AMFT behind us :) I love that you included that shot of your gorgeous little grandsons- they are precious. That cake is beautiful and has love written all over it. Enjoy these special times ......

Kathy, I have several packets of this already prepared and made as I had quite a lot of leftover veggie product. I'm going to just open them and roast them for dinner tonight. Thanks for sharing pictures of your family! Its nice to get that from our Doristas after this much time together isn't it?

Oh, Kathy, those little guys of yours are just darling. Enjoy every minute because they grow up so quickly. And, keep posting their pictures occasionally because it's fun to watch them grow. I agree, January was a slippery slope. I don't mind, really, because I learn something with each recipe, even if it's just not to ever go there again. I enjoyed this week's steamed vegetables as much as you did. I laughed when you said your husband would not have enjoyed them. Nor would have Michael. However, I do think I prefer my veggies roasted and carmelized.

Happy 5th to the grandsons...they are adorable!! This recipe looks so good and I was sad that I missed it, so I bought the things to make it this week as I love the thought of all those ingredients together. Mark, of course, is not going anywhere near those Brussels Sprouts, so I think your idea of a lunchtime selection is a great one indeed. Your photos are beautiful.